The third season of the FUZE Talent Show, tagged ‘Light it Up’, ended on Saturday, 21 December 2024, with a dazzling finale that showcased Nigeria’s brightest young talents, and had a record-breaking prize pool of N50 million distributed among the winners.

 

 

Organised by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the event held in Lagos, featured extraordinary performances across various artistic fields, including music, dance, fashion, and technology, drawing an enthusiastic live audience and millions of viewers worldwide through live-streaming platforms.

 

 

Esther Okonta emerged as the overall winner in the Fashion Category; Grace James,  Tech; Caleb Edet Tremor, Music; and Benedict Emmanuel, Dance. Each clinched the top prize of ₦7.5 million for their respective categories. They also gained invaluable industry exposure and mentorship opportunities.

 

 

Expressing his delight at the outcome, the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Olumide Oyetan noted that this year’s edition of the event had  exceeded expectations of the participants and organisers  in every way.

 

 

“The talent displayed by our contestants are extraordinary, reinforcing our belief in the immense potential of Nigerian youths. This platform has again proven its worth in nurturing and showcasing our nation’s creative prowess,” he added.

 

 

The talent show competition began with over 6,000 submissions and witnessed unprecedented participation levels with four (4) emerging finalists across Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Benin. The rigorous selection process, conducted through the Stanbic IBTC Events App and website, ensured that 28 exceptional talents made it to the bootcamp and only the most exceptional talents made it to the finale.

 

 

This year’s FUZE Festival, which marked the culmination of the talent hunt, was a celebration of creativity and innovation, featuring industry leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries.